06282008 - Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere - Kalkaska County SD

Kalkaska undersheriff returns to duty after cleared of domestic violence charge
by The Grand Rapids Press
Friday September 12, 2008, 6:24 PM
KALKASKA COUNTY
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/news/index.ssf/2008/09/kalkaska_undersheriff_returns.html

-- Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere returned to work Friday after he was cleared of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge alleging he assaulted his 17-year-old stepson by pushing him into a garage door.

Gualtiere had been on administrative leave since the June 28 complaint was filed. Sheriff Bill Artress said the system worked and that a jury, which found Gualtiere not guilty on Thursday, came to the right conclusion.












Sheriff William Artress announced on Friday that the case was closed and Gualtiere would be returning to work on Friday.WPBN News, Michigan
Friday, September 12, 2008 at 11:54 a.m.
http://upnorthweather.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=190071

Kalkaska County's Undersheriff is found not guilty in an assault case involving his step son.

The trial for Bruce Gualtiere took place Thursday in Grand Traverse County.

Investigators say on June 28th the Undersheriff had an argument with his 17- year- old step son that led to what was called "a small pushing and shoving incident."

Gualtiere was on paid leave pending the outcome of the trial. Sheriff William Artress announced on Friday that the case was closed and Gualtiere would be returning to work on Friday.













KALKASKA COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF CLEARED ON ALL CHARGES
WWUP News, Michigan
Posted: 9/12/2008
http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=142196

Kalkaska County Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere will be headed back to work after a Grand Traverse County jury found him not guilty on assault charges.

Gualtiere was charged for an alleged dispute with his stepson back in June.

Since the incident, Gualtiere was placed on paid suspension from his job at the Kalkaska Sheriff's Department.

We'll have more on this story coming up on 9&10 News at five and six..













Cover Up in Kalkaska County
Discover Petoskey.com
Thursday, 13 March 2008
http://www.discoverpetoskey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1371&Itemid=62

Three employees with the Kalkaska county Sheriff's Office have been suspended for allegedly covering up a weapons possession incident at a local school.

Deputy Christie Hoenicke, corrections officer Barbara Szymchack and secretary Jan Gualtiere were suspended without pay by Sheriff William Artress after it was discovered that the three covered up an incident at the Kalkaska High School involving Gualtiere's son, Keith Shephard, who was found to be in possession of a knife.

Gualtiere is also the wife of undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere.

An internal investigation by the sheriff's dept discovered the cover up.

Sheriff Artress said the investigation and discipline are appropriate for the situation and he doesn't intend to take further action against the three employees. Possession of a dangerous weapon in a Michigan School or on its grounds is a misdemeanor with a punishment of up to 93 days in jail.

Shepherd was not ever arrested for the possession but was subsequently suspended and then expelled from the school. He has also been charged with misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license and purchase of tobacco by a minor. All of those charges stem from separate incidents after he brought the weapon to school.













Kalkaska County undersheriff arraigned
Traverse City Record Eagle
Published: July 10, 2008 10:01 am
FROM STAFF REPORTS
http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_192100153.html

TRAVERSE CITY -- A judge arraigned Kalkaska County Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere on a single count of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Eighty-Sixth District Judge Thomas Phillips arraigned Gualtiere, 51, Wednesday morning.

Gualtiere stood mute during the arraignment and is free on a personal recognizance bond.

Grand Traverse Prosecutor Alan Schneider charged Gualtiere after a June 28 incident at Gualtiere's home in Grand Traverse County's Whitewater Township. Gualtiere's stepson, 17, said Gualtiere slammed him into a garage door and punched him in the stomach, according to police reports.











Undersheriff charged in alleged assault
Traverse City Record-Eagle
Published: July 09, 2008 09:46 am
By ART BUKOWSKI
http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_191094643.html

TRAVERSE CITY -- A prosecutor charged Kalkaska County's undersheriff with a crime for an alleged assault that left his teen stepson cut and scratched.

Bruce Gualtiere, 51, Kalkaska's undersheriff since 2005 and a member of the department since 1980, is accused of misdemeanor domestic violence following a June 28 incident at his residence in Grand Traverse County's Whitewater Township.

Grand Traverse Prosecutor Alan Schneider charged Gualtiere on Tuesday. The domestic violence count carries up to 93 days in jail. He was expected to be arraigned today.

Kalkaska Sheriff Bill Artress suspended Gualtiere with pay the day after the incident. Gualtiere will continue on paid leave pending the outcome of criminal proceedings, Artress said.

"We've got to remind people that he's innocent until proven guilty and not guilty until proven innocent," Artress said.

Gualtiere's 17-year-old stepson told Michigan State Police that Gualtiere grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him into a garage door, according to a police report. Gualtiere allegedly hit his stepson in the stomach and tried to knee him in the chest as the two wrestled.

Jan Gualtiere, the stepson's mother and Gualtiere's wife, eventually got between the two and broke up the altercation, the report said. The stepson sustained scratches to his neck, chin, palm and stomach, according to the report, and Gualtiere said he was sore from a blow to the forehead.

In January, the stepson was expelled after he took a knife to Kalkaska High School. Jan Gualtiere, an administrative assistant at the Sheriff's Department, eventually was suspended for her role in hiding the incident from her superiors.

Police reports indicate the June 28 fight began as the stepson and Gualtiere discussed the knife incident. The stepson doesn't live with the Gualtieres, and Bruce Gualtiere allegedly told the stepson to leave his home shortly before the alleged assault, the report said.

Artress faces competition in the August primary in his reelection bid. He won't make any decisions about Gualtiere's status as his undersheriff until the criminal case is wrapped, he said.

"I'm trying to keep the political re-election separate from this," he said. "Let's let the system work, and the system will decide the right outcome, and I'll decide where to go from there.







Kalkaska Undersheriff Faces DV Allegation
Daily Local News Updates from
WJML/WJNL Radio in Petoskey/Traverse City, MI.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
http://wjmlnews.blogspot.com/2008/07/kalkaska-undersheriff-faces-dv.html

Kalkaska county’s Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere remains on administrative leave as authorities look into allegations of abuse.

A state police detective says the investigation stems from a pushing and shoving incident between the undersheriff and his 17-year old step son. The boy left and called police from his girlfriend's home.

The Grand Traverse County Attorney has authorized an assault charge against Gualtiere.

In January Gualtiere’s step son had a run in with police after brining a butterfly knife to school. That eventually led to the youth’s expulsion from Kalkaska High School.












U.S. Bruce Gualtiere currently on administrative leave

By Greg Angel
Tuesday, July 08, 2008 at 5:34 p.m
http://www.tv7-4.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=156624

KALKASKA -- Kalkaska county’s Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere remains on administrative leave as authorities look into allegations of abuse.

According to police reports on the evening of June 28th Gualtiere was at his home in Whitewater Township in Grand Traverse County. At some point in the evening an argument ensued between him and his 17-year-old step-son.
 Followed was what is described by a state police detective as a “small pushing and shoving incident.”

It’s believed the boy then traveled to his girlfriend’s house in Kalkaska where he called police.

An investigation was then completed by troopers from the Michigan State Police.

Pending the outcome of the investigation Gualtiere has been placed on paid administrative leave from the sheriff’s office.

“Even though he’s my undersheriff he is an employee of mine and he’s going to be treated like any other employee,” said Sheriff Bill Artress, Kalkaska County.The case was turned over to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Al Schneider, and after reviewing the police reports his office has authorized one count of assault against Gualtiere, a 93 day misdemeanor.

Sheriff Artress says he will continue to support his undersheriff and asks people to wait until the entire process has worked itself out before coming to any assumptions.

“People have to keep in mind that he is innocent until proven guilty,” Sheriff Artress said. “It’s not the other way around; you’re not guilty until proven innocent.”

Undersheriff Gualtiere has been with the Kalkaska Sheriff’s Office since 1980 serving as Undersheriff since 2005.In January Gualtiere’s step son had a run in with police after brining a butterfly knife to school. That eventually led to the youth’s expulsion from Kalkaska High School.










Officer's conduct being reviewed
Undersheriff investigated in possible assault
Published: July 08, 2008 09:36 am
Traverse City Record-Eagle
By Art Bukowski
http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_190093614.html

KALKASKA -- Kalkaska County Undersheriff Bruce Gualtiere is being investigated for allegedly assaulting his teen stepson.

A June 28 incident at Gualtiere's home in Grand Traverse County's Whitewater Township prompted an investigation by Michigan State Police.

The case has been forwarded to the Grand Traverse prosecutor's office for possible criminal charges.Gualtiere was suspended with pay shortly after the incident.
Lt. Kenneth Holmes, commander of the state police Kalkaska post, said the stepson, 17, didn't need medical treatment.
"It amounts to more or less your typical pushing and shoving," he said.

The stepson left Gualtiere's home after the incident and returned to Kalkaska County, where he lives with his girlfriend. His girlfriend's father called 911 and specifically asked for the state police to respond to the incident, Holmes said.
Troopers believe Gualtiere and his stepson argued prior to the alleged assault.

"There's been typical family issues that I think probably played into ... why they got into an argument that particular night," Holmes said.

Troopers won't investigate the incident further.

"It's complete, as far as we know. We haven't received any request for follow-up," Holmes said. "It's a pretty straightforward and simple investigation."

Grand Traverse Prosecutor Al Schneider said the incident remains under review.

Kalkaska Sheriff Bill Artress placed Gualtiere on leave immediately after the incident, he said. Gualtiere will remain on leave pending Schneider's decision.

"With the complaint going to the state police, it's better to put him on administrative leave until we see what's going to go on," Artress said.

Gualtiere has worked for the Kalkaska Sheriff's Department since 1980 and has served as undersheriff since 2005, Artress said.

"He's the undersheriff, and he's going to be treated like any other employee I have," Artress said.
Gualtiere declined comment.

In January, Gualtiere's stepson brought a knife to Kalkaska High School, leading to his eventual expulsion. His mother is Gualtiere's wife, Jan Gualtiere, who works as an administrative assistant at the Kalkaska Sheriff's Department.

Jan Gualtiere was suspended from the department for her role in covering up her son's weapon possession on school grounds. A corrections officer and a deputy also were suspended for their roles in hiding the incident from their superiors.